Health Unit Issues Measles Alert

Health officials on Thursday sent out a measles alert, warning that six cases in an Oakland Park day care center may be the beginning of a wider outbreak in Broward County.

``With this number of children coming down all at once, there is a good chance of this spreading beyond the day care center,`` said David Roach, administrator of the Broward County Public Health Unit. ``With the number of siblings involved, we are keeping an eye out for rashes all over.``

The health unit`s alert warns doctors, parents and teachers to watch for telltale signs of the highly contagious disease, and to isolate infected children. Children, and adults who work with them, should make sure they are vaccinated.

``It`s in the community right now,`` Roach said. ``You should be aware of it.``

Initial symptoms appear eight to 10 days after a person catches the measles virus, and are similar to those of a common cold: runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat and a slight fever.

Within four days, the fever rises to higher than 101, and a rash starts on the face and spreads to the chest, arms and legs.

Six children, ages 9 months to 4 years, who attend Just for Kids Academy in Oakland Park, showed symptoms during the last week of August, Roach said. Two have been hospitalized, but none are in life-threatening condition.

Another adult in Broward County also has measles, but that case seems unrelated to those at the day care center, said the health unit`s expert in contagious diseases, Dr. Robert Tomchik.

Tomchik said he thinks the disease reached the day care center, at 3890 N. Andrews Ave., from an adult friend of one of the children. That adult`s case and two more linked to the center have not yet been confirmed.

In Florida, children entering public or private schools or day care centers are required to be vaccinated against measles and other diseases, although in some cases there may be a two-week grace period, Roach said.

Infants usually do not receive the measles vaccine until they are 15 months old.

Because of recent outbreaks, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children receive a second measles vaccination around age 11.

All children and employees at the day care center are receiving a second vaccination this week, which is the recommended response to an outbreak, Roach said.

Outbreaks in Broward County have been small in recent years, while cases nationwide have soared.

Measles cases across the United States rose from about 1,500 in 1983 to 27,672 in 1990, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Last year, 89 people died, including 49 preschoolers.

In Broward County this year, there were five cases of measles before August, but they were isolated instances, Roach said.

Because there have been few cases in Broward in recent years, he said, doctors may be slow to consider measles when they treat the initial symptoms. An infected person is contagious for as long as symptoms are present.

MEASLES FACTS

--SYMPTOMS: Runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, slight fever. Within four days, fever rises to over 101. A rash begins on the face and spreads to chest, then arms and legs.

--POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS: Ear infection, pneumonia, brain infection.

--CONTAGIOUS PERIOD: From time symptoms appear through four days afterward.

--VACCINATIONS: Recommended for all children over 15 months and anyone born after 1957. Second vaccination recommended upon entry to sixth grade, and for adults who work with children.

FREE MEASLES SHOTS

Appointments for free inoculations at the Broward County Public Health Unit can be made by calling or visiting: